Sunday 10th March 2019
Greetings and welcome to this week’s newsletter
A Note from Linda
This week is officially the beginning of Lent. We will continue our series on Being Disciples – with a focus on Forgiveness and Prayer.
How do your prayers reflect your life? Through the Lord’s Prayer we’ll reflect on how prayer is grounded in hope, and changes how we live. (I encourage you to consider purchasing your own copy of ‘Being Disciples’ by Rowan Williams. Contact Sharyn in the Office for more information.)
Blessings, Linda
Coming Sunday evenings at Athelstone Uniting Church
10 March – Long Weekend – no evening service
17 March – 6.30 for 7.00pm – Spirited Sunday at The Rezz with speaker Prof Ian Olver
24 March – 6.00pm – Prayer Walk
All are welcome to any of our Sunday evening activities, and as usual are welcome to join us for dinner or a cuppa each Sunday night at The Rezz after our service.
Spirited Sunday – 17 March, 6.30 for a 6pm start
Spirited Sundays are an opportunity to engage with our local community with great speakers and great conversations. Bring a friend, find a seat in the alfresco area, order a meal then, at approx 7pm, engage with a great speaker. Our speaker is Professor Ian Olver AM (Member of the Order of Australia). Ian is a medical oncologist, bioethicist and researcher. He’s going to engage us with lots of thought provoking information about the ethics involved in medical research.
Did you know?
Sermons are now being added to our website each week. So if you missed a Sunday, or find it helpful to reflect on the sermon during the week, check them out.
You’ll find Sermons under our News and Blogs tab www.athelstonechurch.org.au (Audio recordings coming soon!)
Threads – 12 March – 2.30-4.00
Threads is another way that we as a church connect with our community. We enjoy making new connections and building relationships. Are you a knitter or a crocheter? Do you like to stitch or spin? Or, have you always wanted to give it a go? Come and join us on Tuesday at 2.30 at the coffee shop in the Athelstone shopping centre.
Triple Cs
Yep it is that time again, when it is hoped we will have another group of Men meeting at 10:30 am.
Cafe SETTEBELLO, 84 Newton Road Campbelltown, ie, across the road from the Target car park. Parking should be ok. Tables booked in name of Ray.
Have to confirm numbers by 12th March so please advise if you can attend, hoping so as 1 or 2 mysteries may well be revealed. Plus I understand a vibrant guest so be there or be square!! Catch yer!!
Rosters for April, May & June
These will be compiled on Wednesday, 20th March, so if you have any special dates you wish to be considered, please contact me asap, by phone 8337 0011 or by email at jg.robin@bigpond.com
If you are available on Good Friday (19th April) please let me know. Thanks Gus Robin
Letter received by our Pastoral Care Coordinator (Brenton)
“In early January of this year contact was received from a Minister of an Adelaide Hills congregation seeking pastoral care assistance. The help that was required was some visitation to an 90 year old woman who was a resident in a nearby aged care facility. The reason for this request being that the woman’s daughter was going interstate for 3 weeks and was seeking the possibility of someone visiting her mother once or twice a week during her absence.
A call was put out to the Athelstone congregation and offers of assistance were received from Ann Brown, Vicki Burford and Di Curtis. Over the 3 week period a number of visits were undertaken by these three. Following on from this I received a letter from the woman’s daughter expressing her thanks. Enclosed with the letter was a generous cheque of which the proceeds will be used to support the ongoing Pastoral Care work of our Church. Below is a copy of the content of that letter. The letter reads.”
“Both my Mother and I wish to thank you for organising some of the parishioners of your Church to visit my Mother while I was away. We would like to thank them all sincerely (sic) for their time and thoughtfulness, particularly Vicky. My Mother enjoyed their company very much, and we enclose a small donation as a token of our thanks.”
On behalf of the Pastoral Care Oversight Team of our Church, I would also like to extend a big thank you to
Ann, Vicki and Di
Ending Poverty and Building Hope
Ending poverty and building hope is one of the challenges we face as disciples of Jesus who want to make a difference as we journey with our Lord during the 40 days of Lent.
As we identify with our Partner Church in Timor Leste through our Lenten offering we are saying Yes to what it means to be a disciple of Jesus as they courageously take action to make a difference in the lives of their people. And in a sense we are there with them as we place another coin or note in our special money box or envelope and set it aside for Palm Sunday when we bring forward our gift of love in the name of Christ.
There are other ways of taking action also: How about putting a couple of dollars in the Lenten offering tin at the servery whenever you have a cup of coffee or tea during Lent or if you are going down to Café Crema. It will all add up and when what we give at Athelstone is combined with other congregations responses there will be great rejoicing in another part of the Body of Christ.
Envelopes, an action booklet and money box stickers will be available in the porch from Sunday.
Global day of Prayer for Burma (Myanmar) March 10th
Please remember the people of Burma in your prayers on Sunday especially those in Refugee camps – for their ability to return home safely and for opportunities for jobs and education while they wait.
Pray too for the leaders of Burma that they will treat all their people with respect and care for those most in need.
DATES for 2019
Term 1 – 19th March, 2nd April
Term 2 – 7th May, 21st May, 4th June, 18th June, 2nd July
With a gathering of 33 at our last session, it was a busy morning. If you’re an early riser, come and help set up at 8-45am or join us later to help cut fruit or wash dishes. Any assistance is of great benefit to the already committed team.
With thanks to a couple of new helpers on deck, there should be no cancellations of sessions in Term 1. However, the waiting list will be in operation for over 20 children until we continue to increase the team. “Let’s Talk Together” in 2019 and celebrate the International Year of Indigenous Languages.
Bruce and Joy Stewart – Phone: 83362671 or Email: bruceandjoy@bigpond.com
SPRING FAIR – 2019
The Annual Spring Fair/Fete/Garage Sale has been held at Athelstone for many years and Church Council
is reviewing the event and looking at how it may be reinvigorated and sustained into the future.
Council is looking for a new Coordinator and/or team to lead.
If you have any thoughts and/or feel called to be involved, please contact Jeff Dry or Di Curtis.
Packing Day – Save the Date, Start Collecting!
Once again the Athelstone Uniting Church is co-ordinating the packing of goods for indigenous communities in northern and central Australia.
Please save the dates: Sunday June 2nd and Monday June 3rd
This event is a chance for our church community to engage in some fellowship and I would love to have you join us in the camaraderie of the Packing Day.
As in previous years we are collecting for the communities north of Darwin so require clothing and manchester that would be suitable for these tropical destinations.
Attached to the Newsletter is a flyer detailing the goods required. Along with used goods, there are some new items that could be purchased – underwear, stationery, toiletries.
If you have any questions please ask Jayne Nicholas.
Electronic Giving – Forms are available or speak to Treasurer Glen Luestner for more information.
Pastoral care – Please contact a member of our Pastoral Care Oversight Team for assistance:
Rev Linda Driver 0458 500 656 Bob Stevenson 0400 641 242
Brenton Summers 0400 632 829 Ann Brown 0413 581 554
Prayer Requests – Can we support you in prayer? Here’s how:
Prayer Chain – send an email to, or call Brenton Summers, who will pass your prayer request on to a group of people who faithfully pray in response to Prayer Chain emails.
Confidential Prayers – if the issue is more personal you are invited to contact Linda for individual prayer or one the members of the Pastoral Care Oversight team (Brenton Summers, Ann Brown, Bob Stevenson and Linda). All prayer requests going to the team will be kept strictly confidential within this team.
Prayers for Others (Sunday Worship) – Linda provides our Worship Leaders with prayer points as appropriate. Prayer points are also sourced from the Prayer Chain. If you have something you would like to be included in Prayers for Others, please contact Linda. “We are all called to pray for one another, and so we are all encouraged to offer to pray for, or with others, especially if they share a concern with you.” (James 5:13-16
Wider Church News- Please use the link to UC e-news at http://sa.uca.org.au/uc-e-news/
For those interested in developments regarding the new Presbytery structure, all latest news is posted here: https://sa.uca.org.au/presbytery-and-synod/restructure
Website – We encourage you to visit our website: www.athelstonechurch.org.au
Newsletter contributions – Please email newsletter@athelstonechurch.org.au by 5pm Wed.
Lectionary readings
10th March – Dt 26:1-11, 15; Ps 91:1-2, 9-16; Rom 10:8b-13; Lk 4:1-13
17th March – Gen 15:1-12, 17-18; Ps 27; Phil 3:17-4:1; Lk 13:31-35
Readings for Sunday Worship Services
10th March – Matthew 7:7-12 and 6:9-15
17th March – 1 Cor 13:8-13 and 1 Jn 4:7-16
Roster
10th March 17th March
Preacher Linda Linda
Worship Leader Dave Meg
Singers Marie/Friederike/Sylvia Janet/Allan/Ann
Keyboard Shelley Shelley
Guitar Chris/Scott Chris/Dave
Data Projector Dave Dave
Flowers Raelene Jenny
Door Stewards & Offering Janet & Howard Jan & Gus
Notices Barbara Barbara
Scripture Reader Ray Jenny
Offering Count Sylvia/Gus Friederike/Glen
Tea & Coffee Coralie & Brenton Winsome & Brian
Sound Don Noel
Building Steward Richard Noel
What’s on 11th – 17th March
Monday 11th 4.45-6.45pm Waratah Calisthenics College Auditorium
Tuesday 12th 9.30–11.30 am Pilates Top Hall
10.00-11.00am U3A – Yoga Auditorium
2.30-4.00pm Threads Coffee Shop
6.30-7.30pm Reach your Feat Top Hall
Wednesday 13th 10.30am Triple C’s Cafe Settebello
6.00-8.00pm Waratah Calisthenics College Auditorium
6.30-7.30pm Reach your Feat Top Hall
Thursday 14th 5.30-6.30pm Reach your Feat Top Hall
Friday 15th 10.00-12.00pm Friendship Club – Games Auditorium
Saturday 16th 9.30-11.30am Pilates Top Hall
Sunday 17th 9.30 am Worship Auditorium
6.30 for 7.00pm Spirited Sunday The Rezz
Save the Date
The Metropolitan Male Choir of South Australia presents
Songs of Faith
Sunday 7th April 2019 – 2.00 pm at Wesley Uniting Church, Kent Town
(Friends of the Choir enjoy a loyalty benefit; Friends pay only $25 per ticket purchased before 28th Feb)
To purchase tickets for $25 call 0401 204 634
Not a Friend yet? Joining is Free at our website: www.mmcsa.org
Tickets available online for $30 at Trybooking.com from 1st March 2019
Sunday 10th March 2019
Greetings and welcome to this week’s newsletter
A Note from Linda
This week is officially the beginning of Lent. We will continue our series on Being Disciples – with a focus on Forgiveness and Prayer.
How do your prayers reflect your life? Through the Lord’s Prayer we’ll reflect on how prayer is grounded in hope, and changes how we live. (I encourage you to consider purchasing your own copy of ‘Being Disciples’ by Rowan Williams. Contact Sharyn in the Office for more information.)
Blessings, Linda
Coming Sunday evenings at Athelstone Uniting Church
10 March – Long Weekend – no evening service
17 March – 6.30 for 7.00pm – Spirited Sunday at The Rezz with speaker Prof Ian Olver
24 March – 6.00pm – Prayer Walk
All are welcome to any of our Sunday evening activities, and as usual are welcome to join us for dinner or a cuppa each Sunday night at The Rezz after our service.
Spirited Sunday – 17 March, 6.30 for a 6pm start
Spirited Sundays are an opportunity to engage with our local community with great speakers and great conversations. Bring a friend, find a seat in the alfresco area, order a meal then, at approx 7pm, engage with a great speaker. Our speaker is Professor Ian Olver AM (Member of the Order of Australia). Ian is a medical oncologist, bioethicist and researcher. He’s going to engage us with lots of thought provoking information about the ethics involved in medical research.
Did you know?
Sermons are now being added to our website each week. So if you missed a Sunday, or find it helpful to reflect on the sermon during the week, check them out.
You’ll find Sermons under our News and Blogs tab www.athelstonechurch.org.au (Audio recordings coming soon!)
Threads – 12 March – 2.30-4.00
Threads is another way that we as a church connect with our community. We enjoy making new connections and building relationships. Are you a knitter or a crocheter? Do you like to stitch or spin? Or, have you always wanted to give it a go? Come and join us on Tuesday at 2.30 at the coffee shop in the Athelstone shopping centre.
Triple Cs
Yep it is that time again, when it is hoped we will have another group of Men meeting at 10:30 am.
Cafe SETTEBELLO, 84 Newton Road Campbelltown, ie, across the road from the Target car park. Parking should be ok. Tables booked in name of Ray. Want a lift?? Contact Bob Stevenson or Ray Walter.
Have to confirm numbers by 12th March so please advise if you can attend, hoping so as 1 or 2 mysteries may well be revealed. Plus I understand a vibrant guest so be there or be square!! Catch yer!!
Rosters for April, May & June
These will be compiled on Wednesday, 20th March, so if you have any special dates you wish to be considered, please contact me asap, by phone 8337 0011 or by email at jg.robin@bigpond.com
If you are available on Good Friday (19th April) please let me know. Thanks Gus Robin
Letter received by our Pastoral Care Coordinator (Brenton)
“In early January of this year contact was received from a Minister of an Adelaide Hills congregation seeking pastoral care assistance. The help that was required was some visitation to an 90 year old woman who was a resident in a nearby aged care facility. The reason for this request being that the woman’s daughter was going interstate for 3 weeks and was seeking the possibility of someone visiting her mother once or twice a week during her absence.
A call was put out to the Athelstone congregation and offers of assistance were received from Ann Brown, Vicki Burford and Di Curtis. Over the 3 week period a number of visits were undertaken by these three. Following on from this I received a letter from the woman’s daughter expressing her thanks. Enclosed with the letter was a generous cheque of which the proceeds will be used to support the ongoing Pastoral Care work of our Church. Below is a copy of the content of that letter. The letter reads.”
“Both my Mother and I wish to thank you for organising some of the parishioners of your Church to visit my Mother while I was away. We would like to thank them all sincerely (sic) for their time and thoughtfulness, particularly Vicky. My Mother enjoyed their company very much, and we enclose a small donation as a token of our thanks.”
On behalf of the Pastoral Care Oversight Team of our Church, I would also like to extend a big thank you to
Ann, Vicki and Di
Ending Poverty and Building Hope
Ending poverty and building hope is one of the challenges we face as disciples of Jesus who want to make a difference as we journey with our Lord during the 40 days of Lent.
As we identify with our Partner Church in Timor Leste through our Lenten offering we are saying Yes to what it means to be a disciple of Jesus as they courageously take action to make a difference in the lives of their people. And in a sense we are there with them as we place another coin or note in our special money box or envelope and set it aside for Palm Sunday when we bring forward our gift of love in the name of Christ.
There are other ways of taking action also: How about putting a couple of dollars in the Lenten offering tin at the servery whenever you have a cup of coffee or tea during Lent or if you are going down to Café Crema. It will all add up and when what we give at Athelstone is combined with other congregations responses there will be great rejoicing in another part of the Body of Christ.
Envelopes, an action booklet and money box stickers will be available in the porch from Sunday.
Global day of Prayer for Burma (Myanmar) March 10th
Please remember the people of Burma in your prayers on Sunday especially those in Refugee camps – for their ability to return home safely and for opportunities for jobs and education while they wait.
Pray too for the leaders of Burma that they will treat all their people with respect and care for those most in need.
DATES for 2019
Term 1 – 19th March, 2nd April
Term 2 – 7th May, 21st May, 4th June, 18th June, 2nd July
With a gathering of 33 at our last session, it was a busy morning. If you’re an early riser, come and help set up at 8-45am or join us later to help cut fruit or wash dishes. Any assistance is of great benefit to the already committed team.
With thanks to a couple of new helpers on deck, there should be no cancellations of sessions in Term 1. However, the waiting list will be in operation for over 20 children until we continue to increase the team. “Let’s Talk Together” in 2019 and celebrate the International Year of Indigenous Languages.
Bruce and Joy Stewart – Phone: 83362671 or Email: bruceandjoy@bigpond.com
SPRING FAIR – 2019
The Annual Spring Fair/Fete/Garage Sale has been held at Athelstone for many years and Church Council
is reviewing the event and looking at how it may be reinvigorated and sustained into the future.
Council is looking for a new Coordinator and/or team to lead.
If you have any thoughts and/or feel called to be involved, please contact Jeff Dry or Di Curtis.
Packing Day – Save the Date, Start Collecting!
Once again the Athelstone Uniting Church is co-ordinating the packing of goods for indigenous communities in northern and central Australia.
Please save the dates: Sunday June 2nd and Monday June 3rd
This event is a chance for our church community to engage in some fellowship and I would love to have you join us in the camaraderie of the Packing Day.
As in previous years we are collecting for the communities north of Darwin so require clothing and manchester that would be suitable for these tropical destinations.
Attached to the Newsletter is a flyer detailing the goods required. Along with used goods, there are some new items that could be purchased – underwear, stationery, toiletries.
If you have any questions please ask Jayne Nicholas.
Electronic Giving – Forms are available or speak to Treasurer Glen Luestner for more information.
Pastoral care – Please contact a member of our Pastoral Care Oversight Team for assistance:
Rev Linda Driver 0458 500 656 Bob Stevenson 0400 641 242
Brenton Summers 0400 632 829 Ann Brown 0413 581 554
Prayer Requests – Can we support you in prayer? Here’s how:
Prayer Chain – send an email to, or call Brenton Summers, who will pass your prayer request on to a group of people who faithfully pray in response to Prayer Chain emails.
Confidential Prayers – if the issue is more personal you are invited to contact Linda for individual prayer or one the members of the Pastoral Care Oversight team (Brenton Summers, Ann Brown, Bob Stevenson and Linda). All prayer requests going to the team will be kept strictly confidential within this team.
Prayers for Others (Sunday Worship) – Linda provides our Worship Leaders with prayer points as appropriate. Prayer points are also sourced from the Prayer Chain. If you have something you would like to be included in Prayers for Others, please contact Linda. “We are all called to pray for one another, and so we are all encouraged to offer to pray for, or with others, especially if they share a concern with you.” (James 5:13-16
Wider Church News- Please use the link to UC e-news at http://sa.uca.org.au/uc-e-news/
For those interested in developments regarding the new Presbytery structure, all latest news is posted here: https://sa.uca.org.au/presbytery-and-synod/restructure
Website – We encourage you to visit our website: www.athelstonechurch.org.au
Newsletter contributions – Please email newsletter@athelstonechurch.org.au by 5pm Wed.
Lectionary readings
10th March – Dt 26:1-11, 15; Ps 91:1-2, 9-16; Rom 10:8b-13; Lk 4:1-13
17th March – Gen 15:1-12, 17-18; Ps 27; Phil 3:17-4:1; Lk 13:31-35
Readings for Sunday Worship Services
10th March – Matthew 7:7-12 and 6:9-15
17th March – 1 Cor 13:8-13 and 1 Jn 4:7-16
Roster
| 10th March | 17th March | |
| Preacher | Linda | Linda |
| Worship Leader | Dave | Meg |
| Singers | Marie/Friederike/Sylvia | Janet/Allan/Ann |
| Keyboard | Shelley | Shelley |
| Guitar | Chris/Scott | Chris/Dave |
| Data Projector | Dave | Dave |
| Flowers | Raelene | Jenny |
| Door Stewards & Offering | Janet & Howard | Jan & Gus |
| Notices | Barbara | Barbara |
| Scripture Reader | Ray | Jenny |
| Offering Count | Sylvia/Gus | Friederike/Glen |
| Tea & Coffee | Coralie & Brenton | Winsome & Brian |
| Sound | Don | Noel |
| Building Steward | Richard | Noel |
What’s on 11th – 17th March
| Monday | 11th | 4.45-6.45pm | Waratah Calisthenics College | Auditorium |
| Tuesday | 12th | 9.30–11.30 am | Pilates | Top Hall |
| 10.00-11.00am | U3A – Yoga | Auditorium | ||
| 2.30-4.00pm | Threads | Coffee Shop | ||
| 6.30-7.30pm | Reach your Feat | Top Hall | ||
| Wednesday | 13th | 10.30am | Triple C’s | Cafe Settebello |
| 6.00-8.00pm | Waratah Calisthenics College | Auditorium | ||
| 6.30-7.30pm | Reach your Feat | Top Hall | ||
| Thursday | 14th | 5.30-6.30pm | Reach your Feat | Top Hall |
| Friday | 15th | 10.00-12.00pm | Friendship Club – Games | Auditorium |
| Saturday | 16th | 9.30-11.30am | Pilates | Top Hall |
| Sunday | 17th | 9.30 am | Worship | Auditorium |
| 6.30 for 7.00pm | Spirited Sunday | The Rezz |
Save the Date
The Metropolitan Male Choir of South Australia presents
Songs of Faith
Sunday 7th April 2019 – 2.00 pm at Wesley Uniting Church, Kent Town
(Friends of the Choir enjoy a loyalty benefit; Friends pay only $25 per ticket purchased before 28th Feb)
To purchase tickets for $25 call 0401 204 634
Not a Friend yet? Joining is Free at our website: www.mmcsa.org
Tickets available online for $30 at Trybooking.com from 1st March 2019